Cloth washer



Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims. 10!. so) My invention relates to cloth washers.

It has among its objects to provide an improved cloth washer having improved means whereby under varying conditions and while continuing to utilize the same cloth guiding means and support therefor, as distinguished from substituting another support carrying diflerently spaced guiding means, the ballooning action of the cloth may be improved and controlled with a consequent improvement of the cleansing operation and reduction in creasing of the cloth. A further object of my invention is to provide such a washer having such improved means whereby the life of the various rolls thereof may also be substantially lengthened with a consequent substantial reduction in the cost of unkeep of the machine and also a substantial improvement in the effectiveness thereof resulting from the elimination of worn or grooved rolls. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved ballooning controlling cloth guide for such a machine whereby it is made possible to adjust the cloth passages with facility relative to the rolls and the guide in such manner as to adapt the rolls and guide to effective operation under varying conditions, all while obtaining the advantages set forth above and also providing a guide having an improved construction, which is also adapted to be readily and cheaply manufactured and to be readily and quickly adjusted over a wide range of adjustment. These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will, however, more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a washer of my improved construction on line I--l of Fig. 2, the cloth being of course diagrammatically illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with portions of the casing and one of the rolls broken away and the cloth omitted to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the gui e construction, the single arm illustrated being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the guide arms in position on its guide support, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a guide support supported upon the wall of the washer.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown my invention applied to a washer comprising a usual casing I provided with a usual liquid chamber 2 in the bottom thereof, co-operating washer rolls 3 and 4, a front whip roll 5, and a delivery or back whip roll 6, the rolls. as usual being disposed in the top of the casing and adjacent doors 1, and herein also having my improved guides, generally designated A and B, associated therewith between the front whip roll I and the washer rolls 3, 4, and in front of the whip roll.

Referring more particularly to the guides A, B, it will be noted that each of the two sets of guides is identical, except as to the length of the arms thereof, so that a description of one will suflice for both. More particularly considering its structure, it will be noted that each comprises a guide support extending longitudinally of the rolls and herein, as preferably, in the form of a plurality of parallel guide supporting members 3 spaced from one another as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. Further, this support carries thereon and preferably between the members 8 a plurality of perpendicularly disposed cloth guiding arms 3 and these arms are, in turn, so supported on and connected to their supports as to enable the arms 3 to be adjusted longitudinally relative to the members 8 and fixed in position thereon in any desired location longitudinally of the members 8. Thus, it is made possible for the U-shaped cloth apertures provided by the arms 3, to be adjusted in size or longitudinal location relative to the rolls, as desired.

Herein, it will be noted that each guide support and the plurality of members 9 thereon, being connected as described, forms a unitary guide structure, and that these diflerent guide units A, B are herein disposed at right angles to one another. Thus, herein, the unit A is disposed between the whip roll 5 and the washer rolls 3 and 4, with its arms ii projecting vertically upward therefrom, while the unit B, the arms of which are slightly longer than the arms of unit A, is horizontally disposed between the liquid chamber and the roll 5 and closely adjacent the latter r011. It will herein also be noted that each of these units A and B has its members 8 suitably supported at their opposite ends on the side walls of the casing l, as, for example, in suitable brackets Ill suitably attached as by rivets or the like to said walls, and having inwardly projecting supporting flanges H adapted to receive the extremities of the member 8, while permitting ready removal of the units A and B; the supporting flanges H for the unit A having an open top permitting that unit to be lifted out vertically therefrom while the supporting flanges for the unit B have an open side permitting the latter unit to be pulled out horizontally therefrom through the adjacent door I.

Referring more particularly to the connection of the guide arms 9 to their support, herein comprising the members 8, it will be noted that, as shown in Figure 3, each guide arm is herein provided with a reduced portion I! on its lower end which passes-through the space between the members 8 and is provided with a threaded end l3 projecting below those members. Further, it will be noted that holding members or clips 14, ii are provided which co-operate with the members 9 and members 8 in locating the former in any desired longitudinal position on the latter. Of these, the member I, shown in Fig. 3 as the upper member, is provided with an aperture I6 therein adapted to receive the reduced portion I2 on the arm 9 and be pressed down upon the tops of the members 8 by a shoulder I! on the member 9 formed by reducing the latter, while this member II is also provided at its nds with depending flanges l8 projecting down outside both members 8 and holding them against lateral separation. The member l5, shown as the lower member in Fig. 3, is identical with the member I as regards the aperture and flanges mentioned, but reversely disposed beneath the members 8. Further, all of the parts are held in assembled relation by a nut is, threaded on the threaded extension i3 on the lower end of the member 9 and abutting against the under side of the member l5 to clamp all the parts securely together. i

In practice, while the members 8, 9, I4 and I5 may be made of various materials, I preferably form the same of brass and plate the same with chromium, it being found that such members may be inexpensively produced while being free from objection as regards discoloring or wearing the cloth and also being apparently wholly free from evidences of wear after long contact with the moving cloth and the liquid in the washer.

In the operation of a washer constructed in accordance with my invention, the cloth is fed through the 'rolls in endless form in the circuit illustrated in Figure 1, i. e. passing successively through a suitable cleansing liquid in a chamber 2, up through the guides B, over the front whip roll 5, between the guides A, and therefrom between the washer or squeezing rolls 3, 4, to and over the back whip roll 6, and down again to the liquid. In the course of this movement, it will be evident that ballooning will be obtained, the guides being contracted as necessary to obtain the same and to varying degrees dependent on the weight and width of the material. This ballooning which is, in effect, like blowing up a pillow case, and occurs between the guides A and the rolls 3, 4, functions in a well-known manner to minimize creasing of the cloth. More particularly, it will be understood that ballooning is due to the pressure of air and liquid in the folds, the pressure of the rolls, and the action of the guides, and that the same results in opening the folds so that the creases in the cloth, formed in each passage of the latter through the rolls, are caused to come at different places in the cloth, thereby minimizing creasing and making it easier to get out any existing creases, while also reducing the wear on the cloth andproducing a better fabric. It will of course be evident that as the cloth passes successively in its circuit in the washer, the cloth is effectively cleansed by the action of the cleansing solution, the rolls, and the guides, as aforesaid.

As a result of my improved construction, it is made possible to adjust the position of the arms 9 readily and quickly relative to their supports 8 and the rolls 3, l and 5, in such manner as to vary the space between the same and thereby adapt them to use with widely different widths or weights of cloth. Thus, for example, where it is found that effective ballooning on a given width or weight of cloth is not being obtained, it is possible in my improved construction to adjust each pair of co-operating adjacent arms 8 to reduce the size of the cloth guides provided thereby. .by bringing these arms closer together, and thereby increase the ballooning effect. Further, by changing the position of the arms, it is made possible to eliminate the grooving of the rolls heretofore experienced, and, thereby, not only obtain a more efiective wringing action from the rolls but also minimize the necessity for resurfacing or replacing the rolls, which, being of wood or iron and covered with rope or rubber, are quite expensive. Attention is further directed to the fact that as a result of my improvement, one guide unit of my improved construction is adapted when suitably adjusted to perform all the functions of the large number of rigid non-adjustable guide units heretofore required. Attention is also directed to the fact that with my improved adjustable guide unit, it is made possible to distribute the pressure of the rolls in any desired manner to obtain effective wringing therefrom, irrespective of the sizes of the guide apertures between adjacent arms; for example, the arms being adjustable, if desired,,to bring any particular guide apertures in use into the center of the rolls or in any desired spaced or balanced relation along the rolls when using either large or small apertures.

In the use of my improved construction, it is found that it is possible through the readily available reduction in the size of the guides provided, to obtain markedly better ballooning action with consequently more effective washing of the cloth than is possible with the stationary guides of the prior type having mere wood or porcelain lined holes therein, while, as a result of the increased ballooning action, the cloth may also be markedly free from creasing. Moreover, through the provision of my adjustable guides, it is made possible, while obtaining a more effective wringing action of the rolls, also to reduce substantially roll wear and upkeep cost, rolls used with my improved guide showing no visible signs of wear after continual use over a period which would have heretofore resulted in marked grooving of the rolls. Here, it will also be evident that my improvement is not limited to use in connection with cloth washers, but is adapted to use wherever textile materials are passed through cloth squeezing rolls, as, for example, in cloth dye kettles, or fulling mills, or in back washers, and irrespective of whether one set of guides is used, as would be the case in dye kettles or fullingmills or certain back washers, or two sets of guides, as would be the case in washers or certain other back washers. Moreover, it will be apparent that the width between my improved guides may be varied as desired, with the width and weight of the cloth used, or the yarn or fiber if used in back washers, the guides in practice being adjustable between positions corresponding to the full width of the rolls, for certain wide cloth, to positions spaced by approximately half an inch, for certain narrow light materials. It will also be noted that my improved guide structure not only permits free adjustment of any desired guide at will independently of the others, but also makes it possible to adjust one or more of the guides independently of the others while the device is in operation. Moreover, the construction of the individual guides of my improved construction is such as not only to permit the above desired increased freedom of adjustment and thus enable improved effects to be obtained, but the use of arms free at one end also enables thecost of the guides to be reduced and the use of a minimum of' material.

while the use of such arms independently mounted also facilitates independent bodily removal of any single guide arm at any time. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the same has beenshown herein for illustrative purposes, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms and used in various other devices, as, for example, dye kettles, without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cloth washer comprising a liquid chamber and squeezing rolls therein, guide supporting means extending longitudinally of the rolls, a plurality of spaced cloth guiding means on said supporting means, and ballooning controlling means for enabling adjustment of said guiding means relative to said supporting means to vary the ballooning effect.

2. In a cloth washer comprising a liquid chamber and roll mechanism therein, guide supporting means extending longitudinally of the latter, spaced laterally projecting guiding arms free at their outer ends and having their opposite ends carried on said supporting means, and means for enabling adjustment of said arms relative to one another longitudinally of said supporting means.

3. In a cloth washer comprising a washer chamber and washer roll mechanism therein, guide supporting means extending longitudinally of the latter comprising spaced guide supports, and spaced laterally projecting guiding arms free at their projecting ends and having their opposite ends carried on said means and extending between said spaced supports and adjustable longitudinally .thereof.

4. In a cloth washer comprising a washer chamber and co-operating washer and front whip rolls therein, a pluralty of guide supporting means extending longitudinally of and adjacent said washer rolls and said whip roll, guiding means each adjustable relative to the others longitudinally of said supporting means, and means for selectively positioning each of said guiding means in different positions of adjustment.

5. In a cloth washer comprising a washer chamber and co-operating washer and front whip rolls therein, a plurality of guide supporting means extending longitudinally of and adjacent said washer rolls and said whip roll, and guiding means adjustable longitudinally of said supporting means comprising laterally projecting arms thereon adjustable in the same or opposite directions along said supporting means and means for securing said arms in different positions.

6. A ballooning controlling cloth guide for cloth squeezing rolls comprising a narrow barlike guide support, means adjacent the ends of said support for mounting the same in parallel relation to the squeezing rolls, a series of cloth strip guide arms projecting perpendicularly relative to said support and presenting a series of cloth guiding apertures between said arms, and ballooning controllingmeans for enabling independent adjustment of said arms longitudinally relative to said support and to each other to vary the size and location of the cloth guiding apertures between said arms.

'7. A'ballooning controlling cloth guide for cloth washers comprising a barlike guide support having spaced supporting members, means for mounting the same adjacent and longitudinally of the squeezing rolls, a series of strip margin engaging guide arms projecting perpendicularly relative to said members and between said members, and ballooning controlling means connecting said arms to said supporting members releasable to enable adjustment of said arms relative to one another and longitudinally of said members.

8. A ballooning controlling cloth guide for cloth washers comprising an elongated barlike guide support having spaced parallel supporting members each formed as a separate unit, a series of cloth margin engaging guide arms projecting perpendicularly relative to said support, and ballooning controlling means for enabling adjustment of said arms relative to one another and longitudinally of said members and for interconnecting said members comprising reduced portions on said arms extending between said supporting members, flanged clamping members above and below the latter, and a threaded clamping connection on the free end of said reduced portion.

9. In combination, a chamber, squeezing mils therein, a plurality of spaced cloth guiding members supported adjacent said rolls and engageable with the margins of cloth strips passing through said rol1s,,and ballooning controlling means including a support relative to which said guiding members are adjustable longitudinally and releasable connections between said support and members for enabling the selective removal or independent adjustment into diflerent positions longitudinally of said rolls, of said guiding members.

10. In combination, a chamber, squeezing rolls therein for feeding an endless strip of fabric through material in said chamber, and ballooning controlling mechanism adjacent said rolls having a plurality of adjustable cloth aperture forming means and selectively adjustable means for enabling selective adjustment of said aperture forming means to vary the ballooning eil'ect.

11. In combination, a chamber, squeezing rolls therein for feeding an endless strip of fabric through material in said chamber, and ballooning controlling mechanism adjacent said rolls having a plurality of adjustable cloth aperture forming means selectively adjustable to vary the ballooning effect and comprising a plurality of selectively adjustable arms forming side walls of said apertures and independently adjustable longitudinally of said rolls.

12. In a cloth guide, the combination of elongated barlike supporting members in parallel arrangement at a distancefrom each other so as to present a slot therebetween, a pinlike member having a body projecting upward from said supporting members and of greater diameter than'the width of said slot, said member having a portion of reduced diameter located in' said slot in engagement with the inner sides thereof, clips on said reduced portion adjacent the upper and lower faces of said supporting members having flanges engaging the outer sides of said mem-. bers, and a member on the lower end portion of said reduced portion holding the parts detachably in assembled relation.

' HAR'I'MAN I". SCHMIDT. 

